Edmund Rice (1638) Association, Inc.

Once again, we want to thank everyone who attended the Edmund Rice (1638) Association family reunion and meeting in Natick, MA on September 16th-17th, 2011. Overall, we think it was a complete success and can’t wait to do it again next year.

Twenty Rice cousins and friends met in the lobby of the Hampton Inn, Natick on Friday afternoon to begin the bus tour. George Rice led another interesting tour through Sudbury, Wayland and Framingham narrating the whole time. After stops at the North Cemetery in Wayland, MA and the Edmund Rice homestead site, we then headed over to the Framingham Historical Society in the town center. Dinner and conversation followed back at the Hampton Inn.

Pictures from the bus tour are available on our Facebook page.

After opening remarks over coffee and pastries on Saturday morning by John Chandler, president of the ERA, the meeting’s first presentation was given by Michael Rice, association treasurer, to the 30+ assembled in the Concord Room. Next John Chandler discussed a potpourri of interesting DNA updates, ancestry updates and ERA database updates.

Michael Rice then presented stories of four different 19th century Brigadier Generals in the US Army. The morning session concluded with a catered lunch in the same room. Following lunch, Benjamin L. Carp, Associate Professor of History at Tufts University led a discussion on fires and fire fighting in colonial times. Following the talk, John Chandler led the business meeting review where the board of directors was elected and a family picture was commissioned. The meeting adjourned close to 3pm.

Some of this year’s presentations, including Edmund Rice 101 & the 19th Century US Army General, are available in the website library.

Next Year’s meeting will be held at the Hampton Inn, Natick MA on September 21-22, 2012. Check back here for more information during the summer 2012.